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Sun Jun 04, 2006 5:12 pm  |
About two weeks ago I started eating Activia yogurt everyday to regulate my digestive system and it totally works. I noticed a difference within the first couple of days. The only drawback is that I'm now getting sinus headaches which are miserable.
I had completely cut dairy out of my diet specifically for this reason. I thought a little yogurt everyday wouldn't be a problem but it is. 
Anyway, if you don't have sinus issues with dairy, I highly recommend Activia if you have digestive troubles.  |
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Sun Jun 04, 2006 6:02 pm |
| Thanks, Cloe. I've seen the t.v. commercials for Activia and wondered about it. I thought about trying it, but had my doubts. I figured yogurt is yogurt. Thanks to your review, I'm motivated to try it now. |
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Me: NOT Fabulous 50--recent surgically-induced menopause, aging/sagging skin, life-long acne issues, hyperpigmentation. Seeking solutions~possibly even Holy Grail! |
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Sun Jun 04, 2006 6:05 pm |
I started eating this because my aunt lost 10 pounds from eating it. Of course the reason I really think she lost the weight now was because before activia she wasn't eating any breakfast and when she discovered activia she ate it for breakfast. If you don't eat anything for breakfast, you usually eat worse selections of food throughout the day without realizing it. Eating breakfast actually helps you lose weight so I think thats the real reason why she lost it. She claims it was completely from the Activia though. I don't eat it everyday anymore, but a couple times a week. Its a great tasting yogurt at the very least. I don't know if it regulates me, I don't think I really had any issues before I started eating it though. Strawberry is the best.  |
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24 years old...Please click to Fund Food for Animals at the AnimalRescueSite! http://www.theanimalrescuesite.com/clickToGive/home.faces?siteId=3 |
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Sun Jun 04, 2006 6:11 pm |
| I should really try this. Does anyone know if it is vegetarian-friendly? |
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27, sensitive/reactive/acne prone skin, dark brown hair, blue eyes, possibly the palest woman alive... |
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Sun Jun 04, 2006 7:25 pm |
| Seeking~HG wrote: |
| Thanks, Cloe. I've seen the t.v. commercials for Activia and wondered about it. I thought about trying it, but had my doubts. I figured yogurt is yogurt. Thanks to your review, I'm motivated to try it now. |
You're welcome. I hope it works for you.
manslayerliz- They're not the healthiest but here's the ingredients for the vanilla Activia.
cultured grade A reduced fat milk, fructose syrup, sugar, modified corn starch, contains less than 1% of fructose, whey protein concentrate, kosher gelatin, natural vanilla flavor, sodium citrate, malic acid.
contains the active cultures L.Bulgaricus, S.Thermophilus and Bifidobacterium
Hope this helps. |
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Sun Jun 04, 2006 7:47 pm |
I love yogurt, but I think this Activia stuff is sort of a marketing ploy. There are other brands that offer that culture they tout as being the thing that regulates you. StoneyBrook Farm is one, and they're organic as well.
Me, I usually stick to good ole yoplait. I feel it helps me keep my insides healthy and running properly. |
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Sun Jun 04, 2006 8:19 pm |
| didn't do anything for me. I typically eat a lot of regular low fat low cal yogurt. Can't say that this stuff helped my tummy any more than the others. I'm surprised it's so high in sugars, usually they are what causes problems. |
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Combination - dehyrdated, acne, sensitive, late 20's. |
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Sun Jun 04, 2006 9:01 pm |
| violetanne wrote: |
I love yogurt, but I think this Activia stuff is sort of a marketing ploy. There are other brands that offer that culture they tout as being the thing that regulates you. StoneyBrook Farm is one, and they're organic as well.
Me, I usually stick to good ole yoplait. I feel it helps me keep my insides healthy and running properly. |
It's definitely a gimmick. Bifidus Regularis is supposed to be a unique culture exclusive to Dannon. I don't know how it's different but I do know, for me, it made a difference unlike other yogurts I've tried in the past. Like everything, it works for some and not others. Some people have adverse reactions. Here's some info I found online about this particular culture.
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Bifidus digestivum
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Jump to: navigation, search
Bifidus Digestivum, also known as Bifidus Regularis, Bifidobacterium Lactis, Bifidus Essensis and Bifidus Activo is an additive in Activia Yoghurt.
These are trade names of the Bifidobacterium animalis strain number DN 173 010, from the Danone company (known as Dannon in the US), used in their product range Activia. The strain is known as Bifidus Digestivum (UK), also known as Bifidus Regularis (US), Bifidobacterium Lactis (Canada), Bifidus Essensis (Germany and Austria) and Bifidus Activo (Spain).
This bacterium is one of the most well-known probiotics on the market today, due to the extensive marketing campaigns of Danone / Dannon.
Opinion is divided about the benefits of live yoghurts - while some consumers seem to gain relief from using this product, others see results from no change to chronic diarrhea.
According to the Danone packaging of the Activia yogurts " Danone Activia contains the unique live culture Bifidus Digestivum™, clinically proven to help improve digestive transit when eaten every day" |
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Sun Jun 04, 2006 10:34 pm |
I found this interesting bit of info at time.com:
"Dannon's Activia, launched in January, is the first yogurt in the U.S. to use probiotics via a trademarked culture, Bifidus Regularis, which aids digestion after two weeks of regular use, according to studies conducted by Dannon. (Oh, Dannon vs. Danone? The yogurt brand was Americanized when it arrived here.) On the organic side, Stonyfield Farm, in which Groupe Danone holds a majority stake, has run out of cows before it has run out of customers. Stonyfield is the third largest player in the category, with 90% of the $155 million organics segment and 6% of overall yogurt sales, but it has been forced to scramble to find more organic milk as sales outrun its supply."
I didn't know that Stonyfield (not Stoneybrook, sorry!), was part of Dannon.
I also found this article: http://www.bifidusdigestivum.com/bifidusdigestivum.php, and if you scroll down a bit, there's a link about Stoneyfield. But I guess what I don't get is that you can buy bifidus supplements, just like you can buy acidophilis, so what's the difference between this and bifidus regularis? I guess I can't wrap my head around the idea of trademarking bacteria. |
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Sun Jun 04, 2006 11:36 pm |
Why not try Yakult? It is a Japanese brand and rather than eating pots of yoghurt you drink this little bottle (about 2oz) ... it has long been a staple here in Japan and is EXCELLENT for regulating intestinal problems. I know they sell it in Australia now, as well as UK and Europe and also USA.
Being so small in size it is good if you dont like dairy or milk (like my mum), it does not taste HORRIBLE either.  Nor is it full of nasties like corn syrup and cup-loads of sugar (though sugar is high on the ingredient list you just have to look at the calorie count and GI level to see it is not as excessive at most yoghurts).
INFO:
Yakult is a fermented milk drink that contains a very high concentration of a unique, beneficial bacterium called Lactobacillus casei Shirota strain. This bacteria was named after Dr Shirota and is exclusive to Yakult. It is pronounced as follows: Lack-toe-bass-ill-us case-e-i Shirota strain.
Each one of us has around 100 trillion bacteria in our intestines. Some of these are beneficial and some are potentially harmful. To work efficiently our digestive system needs a healthy balance where the number of beneficial bacteria outnumber those that are potentially harmful. The unique beneficial bacteria in Yakult are strong enough to survive the journey through the stomach’s gastric juices to reach the small intestine alive, where they help maintain an ideal balance of beneficial bacteria. Each 65ml bottle contains hundreds of millions of these highly acid resistant bacteria, which are exclusive to Yakult.
You can read more on Yakult at http://www.yakult.com.au/resources/documents/Yakult_NIP.pdf
or
Yakult Light at http://www.yakult.com.au/resources/documents/YakultLIGHT_NIP.pdf
Local sites:
www.yakult.co.jp /www.yakultusa.com /www.yakultuerope.com /www.yakult.co.uk
List of global sites: http://www.yakult.co.jp/global/index.html |
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SKIN: combination, reactive to climate changes and extremely fair. "Women complain about premenstrual syndrome, but I think of it as the only time of the month that I can be myself." --Roseanne |
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Mon Jun 05, 2006 3:58 am |
| An independent study in Europe (made from the consumer side) found absolutely no evience for any influence to digestion, immune system, or anything else - either for Yakult, nor for Activia (Activia is from Danone and interestingly Yakult belongs to Danone with a certain percentage as well...). Additionally, both of them are packed with sugar, which actually makes them rather negative . . . This is a big marketing issue only, with no medical basis. |
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Mon Jun 05, 2006 6:00 am |
| Good, I'm glad to hear all this. I sort of thought it may have been a marketing gimmick. I drastically cut back on my activia when I started cutting out sugar. I like the carb and sugar control better than activia anyway. Now I don't feel so bad not eating it everyday like it says too, because I thought it was really healthy for me. And yeah, if they're trying to make something healthy like that why don't they offer a sugar free version? |
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24 years old...Please click to Fund Food for Animals at the AnimalRescueSite! http://www.theanimalrescuesite.com/clickToGive/home.faces?siteId=3 |
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Mon Jun 05, 2006 9:23 am |
| For people who want to avoid sugar and dairy, you can take a pro-biotic in capsule form. I take acidophilus (have been for years) and it's awsome for digestive health. You can find it in any health food store, usually in the refridgerated area. |
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51 years old/brunette/normal- oily medium skin. |
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Mon Jun 05, 2006 9:30 am |
| sportygirl wrote: |
| For people who want to avoid sugar and dairy, you can take a pro-biotic in capsule form. I take acidophilus (have been for years) and it's awsome for digestive health. You can find it in any health food store, usually in the refridgerated area. |
Or you can just make your own active yoghurt (which is what we do).. cuts out all sugars and additives and you can make it on skim milk.
Re the Yakult. Whilst it is "new" and hyped around the world, it has been used by the Japanese for about 60 years or more. Whilst I try to avoid anything with refined sugars, if I am not feeling so good (or if I get a stomach flu) then this is what I turn to. As for the sugar, there can't be more than a couple tsp worth in it (looking at the calorie count).. if you dont intake other sources of sugar (ie in tea, coffee, sweets, etc.) then I dont see where that would have a negative effect on an otherwise healthy person. It is not like you drink a stack of it. Just one a day.(or two at most for a short period) |
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SKIN: combination, reactive to climate changes and extremely fair. "Women complain about premenstrual syndrome, but I think of it as the only time of the month that I can be myself." --Roseanne |
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Mon Jun 05, 2006 9:58 am |
| tiger_tim- do you have the recipe that you use to make your active yogurt? |
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Mon Jun 05, 2006 10:02 am |
| At the moment I have a purchased yoghurt culture but before I was making Caspian Yoghurt which you basically just keep re-using the same culture (kinda like a sourdough). You just put a couple spoonfuls into the new carton of milk, let it sit a while and you have the new yoghurt. Then take a couple spoons of that and make the next one and so on. The Caspian yoghurt was definately the healthier of the two but had an odd consistency. The one grown from a turkish yoghurt culture produces a LOT of whey, especially using skim milk. |
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SKIN: combination, reactive to climate changes and extremely fair. "Women complain about premenstrual syndrome, but I think of it as the only time of the month that I can be myself." --Roseanne |
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Mon Jun 05, 2006 10:06 am |
| Thanks tiger_tim! |
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Mon Jun 05, 2006 11:48 am |
violetanne- Thanks for the info. I had no idea that Stoneyfield was owned by the Dannon Co. I'm so glad there is an organic, healthier version of this yogurt available. Plus the Stoneyfield has a larger variety of cultures in it, including the ones in Activia.
For anyone wanting to try the yogurt, I would definitely go with the Stoneyfield as it would be a much better and healthier choice all around.
tiger_tim- Thanks for the info on Yakult. It sounds interesting. I've never seen this stuff before. It sounds similar to kefir which I've never tried.
sportygirl- I've been taking a single dose of probiotics (refrigerated kind) for a long time but never saw any difference in my digestive system. Since the yogurt gives me sinus trouble I've started taking 2 or 3, 3 times a day. It will be a good test for me to see if it makes a difference. Do you take Jarrow or a different kind? |
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Mon Jun 05, 2006 12:20 pm |
| When I want to cut refined sugar then i'm definitely not going to eat a sugar bomb like Yakult (it also tastes awfully sweet). Still, before I read the study about yakult and activia I head my yakult every morning and had absolutely no improvement, not the slightest one re. digestion . . . |
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Mon Jun 05, 2006 9:05 pm |
| sportygirl wrote: |
| For people who want to avoid sugar and dairy, you can take a pro-biotic in capsule form. I take acidophilus (have been for years) and it's awsome for digestive health. You can find it in any health food store, usually in the refridgerated area. |
I second this. I think the new "Activia" etc. marketing push is to get people who wouldn't ordinarily buy yogurt to buy it.
It is good for your overall health, gut, digestion (even yeast etc.) to take these though. However, as SportyGirl said, you can easily get acidophilus, and also find supplements that incorporate the other cultures that you see listed on all these yogurt products.
I eat a lot of yogurt, but if I get sick or too allergy-y dairy is off limits b/c it really puts my mucous production into overload (gross, sorry!).
There are SO many brands of supplements though, it's hard to know what to choose. I would talk to the people at your local healthfood store if you can. I use one that my chiropractor gave me (that I haven't seen in stores).
Also--many of these products must be refrigerated. Just a heads up. |
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29--oily somewhat acneic skin, hazel eyes, long dark brown hair |
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Mon Jun 05, 2006 9:17 pm |
| Thanks tularyn. I'm gonna ask at the health food store tomorrow cause now I'm really curious what other variety of acidophilus are in pill form. Although I think the one I take has everything, acidophilus, fos and all that stuff. |
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Tue Jun 06, 2006 7:37 am |
cloe - I take PB 8, 4 caps a day. 2 in the AM and 2 in the PM on an empty stomach. It's made by Nutrition Now Inc.
I buy it in the Organic foods fridge in my local Save-On foods. |
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51 years old/brunette/normal- oily medium skin. |
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Tue Jun 06, 2006 9:06 pm |
Hi sportygirl-
Thanks for the info. I think I've seen this one before and it looks like really good one. |
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Wed Jun 07, 2006 6:54 am |
| Your welcome cloe, and yes, I think it is a pretty good one. |
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51 years old/brunette/normal- oily medium skin. |
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Wed Jun 07, 2006 5:13 pm |
| as much as i love to eat yogurt, but sometimes i find them too sweet and they are loaded with sugar... |
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